August 11th, 2011
12:49 PM ET
The women battle it out to win 'SYTYCD'As the ever-blunt Nigel Lythgoe pointed out on Wednesday night's performance finale of "So You Think You Can Dance," a woman is almost certain to win this year. Melanie is the odds-on favorite, but I had a feeling that Sasha might be surging ahead when she nailed one of the most amazing Sonya Tayeh routines we've seen on the show, with all-star (and Lady Gaga backup dancer) Mark. This followed an underwhelming disco number that, for the first time, showed Melanie and Marko to be completely out of their element. This wasn't exactly the reunion we had hoped for (but I'm sure we will get that on Thursday night's season finale).
Melanie was very much in her element performing a Stacey Tookey routine with all-star Robert, though. And it was certainly enough to get Kenny Ortega to promise her a role in the upcoming "Dirty Dancing" remake. Still, I wasn't sure if that was quite enough to get her the votes she needed to secure victory. However, she came back strong by (slightly) outshining Sasha in a Stacey routine the two of them did together, and a dynamite jazz routine with Tadd. Melanie hasn't had much of a problem having chemistry with anyone on the show, and the combination of this week's and last week's routine with Tadd showed that. Tadd had a pretty good night himself, holding his own with season 4 champ, Joshua, as well as a difficult stepping routine (which unfortunately, didn't make Marko look very good). But then there was that cha-cha from "Dancing with the Stars'" Mark Ballas, which didn't do Tadd or Sasha any favors. As awkward as Melanie and Marko's disco was at times, this one just didn't work at all. Marko had his chance to shine, however, in my favorite routine of the night, from new choreographer Tessandra Chavez. Marko has now danced with two of the most talented all-stars - first Allison, and in this routine, Lauren - and showed he can dance contemporary with the best of them. No doubt, this is one of the strongest final four we've seen in a while, but the dancer who came off looking the best remains the same one that has looked the best since the top 20. So here's hoping that Melanie will win it all. That's not to say that I would be disappointed if any of the others won (and I think Sasha could place a close second), but she's my pick. Who had your vote on Wednesday night? What did you think of Katie Holmes' turn as a judge? Share your thoughts on iReport, as Chris Morrow did, or comment below.
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I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Katie Holmes disastrous judging turns. She was out of her league. Tom and Katie must realize that they are good at reading other people’s words, not speaking their own. http://bit.ly/o30BwK
Melanie deserves to win. The show last night was not spectacular. I think the disco number was partly poor choreography.
also, yes, melanie is a vetry talented dancer, but the judges made her out to be like the most perfect thing ever. she wasn't always perfect (like her hip hop routine with twitch) but the judges don't care to give her any criticism cause they favor her too mcuh. speaking for overall growth though, tadd is probably the most deserving.
I liked Billie. I thought he's way better and stronger dancer than Tadd! But Melanie is going to win this hands down!
Okay, I just had a brain cramp! I meant Ricki – he's a better dancer than Tadd! Sorry!
lol! the judges have never been discreet when it comes to saying who their favorite is. they straight up shout it out!
Sasha is so much more than a dancer, she has soul, she has spirit, she has the tecnical skill but she also 'feels' her dances and expresses her innermost feelings through her interpretation of the dance. I hope she wins, she deserves it.
The judges have given her lip service but that's all, Melanie is most certainly their favorite and the judges have worked very hard to discreetly let the audience know this hoping to influence the voting. To bad, judges should only judge, let the viewers make up their own minds. Cat Deely is my fav also,hope she gets than Emmy.
OldGirl, if you thinks Sasha "feels" her dances more than Melanie, then you don't know a darned thing about dance.
There is truly no contenst.
Even the picture above this article reveals the truth. Just look at the photo and tell me which one is "feeling" and which one is trying to feel? Which one is drawing the audience in with her every subtle movement, hand position, facial expression, and body position?
the answer, quite clearly, is Melanie
Worst finale of this show EVER!! Why in the world would they put Disco and stepping in the finale? Why would you include the Cha-Cha when you know these four can't move their hips? There were a couple good routines, but most were not up the caliber of the rest of the season. I think Melanie will win, but Tadd is really my favorite.
Tadd has done an amazing job of keeping up with the others this year.....But Melanie is the most deserving of the win. She is a flawless dance with a true God-given gift to touch an audience.
I would put Tadd ahead of Sasha and Marko, for sure, though.
The women should just have a biscuit bumping/scissors contest and get it over with.
I did not like the show last night, sans one or two performances. The solos were lacking and the choreographers were far too ambitious with the routines. As another person pointed out, if a dancer is not good at lifts, why or earth would you put so many in? I know that was a part of disco, but you'd risk the safety of the dancers and the integrity of the piece by putting in elements far outside the lifter's capability? It was just painful to watch and not what I expected out of a finale show.
Im astonished at you peoples obsession with watching the best of the worst.
Sasha is my favorite. After her dance with Kent last week, She tops everyone. The last few shows demonstrate Melanie's weaknesses and Nigel's unwillingness to criticize Melanie while unnecessarily bashing the other top contenders. Would love Tadd to win because of his wonderful humor and persistence.
Katie Holmes boring!!!!!! Bring back Lady Gaga (brilliant) or Applegate (honest and funny).
If you're gonna call it out....then keep it real. Nigel has failed to criticize Melanie because, well,until that Disco performance, ther wasn't anything to criticize. But Nigel has failed to criticize Sasha as well. Over-hyping her, IMO, throughout the season. She can dance "strong" but she can't do much else. She cannot make people feel, which is very, very important to dance. She is a 1-trick pony. And this was shown when she had her first foray into the Latin genre with that disastrous cha-cha (and BTW, how did Sasha go through the whole season without drawing any tough latin dances out of the hat? Hmm)
Melanie is leaps and bounds...quite literally...ahead of Sasha in her dance skills. And the performance skills, well, they're not even in the same ballpark.
Melanie is definitely the most deserving winner this show has EVER had!
Ooh, I forgot to point out that Melanie's problems in that Disco routine were Marco's problems.
She hit her steps (what few of them were choreographed) but the entire routine was a bunch of lifts and tricks, and her poor partner was not strong enough to lift her. What was she supposed to do? Levitate?
I was disappointed in most of the finale choreography with the exceptions stated above. These four were the four I voted to be in the finale. My husband and I feel that Melanie has been the best overall with Sasha a close second. I don't know – I grew up during the disco era – and I didn't like the routine, generally the choreographer plays to the strengths of the dancer and clearly Marco was not great at lifting Melanie whereas Robert lifted her effortlessly.. As for Katie Holmes she was too nice even when things were awful – there was no honesty just gushing over the entire season but not about the piece. Maybe she felt that criticism was not going to help anything on the final night – but the others were more honest. In essence I loved Lady Gaga – pure emotion and authenticity!!!! BTW my husband and I love the show and are in the 55-65 demographic.
And now, fresh from her divorce/escape, your next bachlorette, Katie Holmes. Join her on an amazing journey...
Melanie for the win. Sasha is just to technical, no warmth at all.
I was disappointed in most of the finale choreography with the exceptions stated above. These four were the four I voted to be in the finale. My husband and I feel the Melanie has been the best overall with Sasha a close second. I don't know I grew up during the disco and I didn't like the routine, generally the choreographer plays to the strengths of the dancer and clearly Marco was not great at lifting Melanie whereas Robert lifted her like she was nothing – beautiful effortless lifts and partnership. As for Katie Holmes was too nice even when things were awful – there was not honesty and maybe she felt that criticism was not going to change anything on the final night – but the others were more honest. In essence I loved Lady Gaga!!!! BTW my husband and I love the show and are in the 55-65 demographic.
Watching Katie, couldn't help thinking of Anne Hathaway's dead on impression, and giggling. She was only there to promote her movie: Forgettable.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought of Hathaway's spot on impression from SNL!
Katie Holmes is pathetic. I lost count at how many "amazing"'s and, "magicals" she used. Not to mention the word "like". Totally inarticulate. " Like Wow. You are so like amazing like and magical." She has the vocabulary of a 3rd grader, has no dance experience and was essentially there to promote her movie. The dancers deserved better than a never was actress who's main claim to fame is who she's married to. I never gave Katie Holmes much of a thought before last nite. Now I know why. Nigel, you just lost a regular viewer and I bet I'm not alone.
I'm not a Katie Holmes fan, and I'm not saying she did a great job as a guest judge....but, she does have dance experience, and has done several dance performances; so she is a dancer as well as an actress. Just thought you should know.